Fairfax County government offices will close, but public schools will remain open tomorrow (Wednesday) for Veterans Day.
Fairfax County Public Schools students will head to class tomorrow as usual after the school board voted this spring to no longer observe Veterans’ Day as a student holiday. Seeking to reduce disruptions to the standard five-day school week, the board also considered Indigenous Peoples’ Day for elimination, but that proposal didn’t pass.
The county government, meanwhile, generally follows the federal holiday calendar, so some facilities and services will be unavailable. Here’s everything to know about where to commemorate Veterans Day and what services will be affected by the holiday.
What to do on Veterans Day
Veterans Day ceremonies and other events saluting former members of the military for their service are planned across Fairfax County.
- Fairfax City: American Legion Post 177 (3939 Oak Street) will host a ceremony with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. and feature Fairfax Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Michael C. Sprano as its keynote speaker.
- Great Falls: The Great Falls Freedom Memorial will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony starting at 11 a.m., with board member, Vietnam War veteran and longtime Great Falls resident Bob Newhall serving as this year’s keynote speaker. The memorial can be found behind Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike.
- Herndon: Sponsored by American Legion Post 184, the Town of Herndon will observe Veterans Day with a ceremony on the Town Green (777 Lynn Street) at 11 a.m. An Avenue of Flags will also be on display at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery.
- Springfield: American Legion Post 176’s Veterans Day Ceremony at 6520 Amherst Avenue in Springfield is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
In addition, Reston Town Center will host its second annual Run for Valor 5K, a race benefitting the nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels. Participants will head out from the starting line at the RTC Window Plaza on Opportunity Way at 8 a.m. Free parking will be available in the orange garage.
Some attractions are also offering free admission throughout the day to active-duty, former and retired service members, including:
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The estate has a full day of events planned, from musical performances and story times to a speech by historical reenactors playing George Washington and Henry Knox and a station where community members can write thank-you cards to veterans. Veterans can also place a floral tribute at the New Tomb and snag free bread samples from Half Crown Bakehouse.
- National Museum of the U.S. Army: The museum in Fort Belvoir (1775 Liberty Drive) is offering free admission to all throughout the day, with a discount for veterans at its store. Activities include a greeting card station, hands-on history talks focused on World War I soldiers and telephone operators, and a Tiny Troops Story Time.
- Fairfax County Park Authority: Active-duty service members, veterans and their families can have complimentary access to the county’s recreation centers, camping at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, and wagon rides at Frying Pan Farm Park. Rides will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- National parks: Veterans Day is one of eight occasions this year when the National Park Service is waiving entry fees, including at Great Falls Park.
Service closures and changes
Courts
Fairfax County’s circuit, general district and juvenile courts will all be closed tomorrow, as will the City of Fairfax General District Court.
Trash and recycling
No changes to trash and recycling collection services are planned for Fairfax County customers, but residents who use private haulers should contact them directly to confirm their schedule. The I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex will also remain open.
“Our administrative office will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 12,” the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services said in a notice on its website.
Vienna and Herndon will also maintain their regular trash collection schedules, but Fairfax City will collect both its Wednesday and Thursday routes on Nov. 12.
Transportation
For Veterans Day, Metro will provide rail service with weekend frequency from 5 a.m. to midnight, while buses will follow a Saturday schedule. All MetroAccess subscription trips are canceled, so customers seeking to reserve a ride must do so online or by calling 301-562-5360.
Parking at all Metro-owned garages and lots is free for the day.
Fairfax Connector will operate according to a holiday weekday schedule, meaning most routes will provide Saturday service. However, regular weekday service will be available on routes 306 between George Mason University and the Pentagon Metro station, 606 between the Centreville Park and Ride and Tysons Metro, and 662 between the Centreville Park and Ride and Vienna Metro.
The bus system’s transit stores and customer service call center will be open during their regular hours.
Fairfax City’s CUE Bus system will offer modified weekday service with just one bus operating on each route.
Community centers
All Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) facilities, including community, senior and teen centers, will be closed for the day. That includes School Age Child Care and Beyond the Bell centers, despite FCPS remaining open, because they’re operated by county staff.
The McLean Community Center will be closed, while Reston Community Center is following modified hours of 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at both its Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road) and Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza) facilities.
The Vienna Community Center will have shortened operating hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Herndon Community Center will close for the day.
Libraries, parks and recreation
All Fairfax County Public Library branches will be closed for Veterans Day.
Most Fairfax County Park Authority facilities will be open, with the exception of the marinas at Accotink, Fairfax and Burke lakes, the Clemyjontri Park carousel, Colvin Run Mill, and Sully Historic Site. Rec centers will follow regular hours, but shortened hours are scheduled at visitor and nature centers.
In Herndon, the Herndon Centennial Golf Course will be available to players from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center in Fairfax City will be closed.
